Adventures In: Personal Reflection

So at work today my office mate and I were listening to old school 90's jams. I played Graduation (Friends Forever) and then remembered the Sunscreen song. We listened to it, and I thought WOW. This is great advice! I'm going to highlight some of the lyrics that really stuck out to me, and made me think, and encourage me :) 

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.

Some of the highlighted parts are just fun, and remind me to enjoy things in life. Like DANCE, and SING, and Enjoy the beauty and power of youth.

Other parts really hit home for me. I found myself in a puddle of tears last night because I found out someone was saying some things about me that really hurt my feelings. But this song reminded me to shake it off. Easier said than done of course, but I need to focus on enjoying life, loving the people I love, and having as much fun as possible. 

I'm also going to challenge myself to be more positive. Negativity breeds negativity. I don't want that in my life. I can be one judgmental B, but I'm going to work on it. Sure I'll still look at the annoying girl at work, and want to make comments about how stupid she is, and I'm sure I'll sometimes still share those comments with others, or chime in when others are making comments that are negative. I'm not perfect. BUT I am going to be more mindful of saying mean things about people, and even try to stop thinking the negative things, and focus on the good in people. Life is so much easier when you can be positive. I know there is a fine line between positive and naive, but in all I've experienced in my 28 years I'm pretty sure I know the difference! The old adage "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is so NOT true. Words HURT!! I never want someone to feel what I felt last night because I discovered someone was talking trash about me because of something I said. Again, I'm not perfect, I'm for sure a work in progress, but I'm going to add this to the list of things I know I need to improve upon, and actually do something about it!! 

STARTING NOW! :) 

Wish me luck! 

Hope anyone reading this knows I appreciate them for taking time to read my (rambling) thoughts!! 

BIG X's and O's

Tara Pants

Adventures In: Being SUPER excited!!

Hello pals. I am so super excited today. Let me tell you why

• It's Friday
• It's nearly 60 degrees outside, hello crazy Indiana weather!!
• I'm going to Evansville tonight
• I'm road tripping there with my boyfriendy
• I'm staying at my besties all weekend
• I'm seeing my other bestie and her babies this weekend
• I'm finally celebrating Christmas with my mom and sister
• I talked to Jonathan (my handsome, smart, hilarious 3 year old 'nephew') on the phone last night, and he melted me heart into a giant puddle. "I get to see you this weekend" Me "YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Him. His excitement was so very sweet. He kept telling me how happy he was to see me, and called me his best friendy which is so cute because I call everyone "friendy" or Brad my "boyfriendy". Then he wowed me with his smartness. He sang me the ABC's and I know most kids at that age sort of mumble/smash together the LMNOP part, not J Man. He sang it clear as day! Then he was telling me about the car accident he was in, and I said "Did Daddy get his car fixed yet", he replied with, "Me and Daddy were thinking there is no way it can be fixed". Seriously? SERIOUSLY. So cute/funny/smart!!! He also sang me the IU fight song, which of course made this Hoosier girl proud!!! :)  Hence the IU logo at the top of this blog that I can't seem to figure out how to move.
• I figured out that Butch Walker produced one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs. That made the music nerd/Butch Walker lover/Taylor Swift fan girl in me super excited! 

Okay that's all for now from me!

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!!

XO- Tara Pants

Adventures In: Being Baffled By People

People just baffle me. The things people post on the Internet amaze me.

I think I should call up Mark Zuckerburg and convince him to hire me as the "bitch keep that shit off of Facebook" police.

Wonder why people are gossiping about you? It's probably because 1. you think you are being cryptic and posting things that 'no one will ever figure out'. Wrong. You aren't as clever as you think you are, everyone sees through your game. Or 2 you put way too much information about yourself, your baby daddy, your relationship, your kids, etc out there. A great line from The Social Network "the Internet isn't written in pencil". So very true!!!

Maybe people think I post to much about a certain thing, maybe I do. Feel free to share those opinions with me, Im open to constructive criticism. But I really don't think I use my Facebook page to cause drama, hurt people, or act like poor little me.

People seriously can we make a resolution to not throw pity parties on Facebook, especially when a) you create all the problems yourself and b) there are much bigger things you should probably be concerning yourself with.

*bows*
*steps off soapbox!*

Thank you that is all

XO TaraPants

Adventures In: Recapping/Looking Forward

2012. WOW. That really sums it up. It will go down in history of one of my best years EVER! 2012 brought so many great things. I had a blast bonding with friends, laughing with family, and loving my boyfriendy! The boyfriendy came into my life mid year, May to be exact. My life has been forever changed, for the best. We became "offical" in June, and I moved to Lafayette in August to be with him. Most people say it happened to fast, but darn it; when it's right its right!!! With him it was just right. Sure it was a major life change for me, but it hurt me so much being away from him. The road trips were fun, but I'd cry almost the whole way back to Evansville. Things were difficult with the move at first, finding a job took over a month, but sleeping next to the one I love every night made it all beyond worth it! I'm so lucky to have found him.

Anyhoo. Enough sappyness about the boyfriend. You can put your barf bags away!

This year had other great things too. Countless "slumber parties" with Webster, where we did all sorts of things, and nothing at the same time. Hours at pool this summer where my freckles exploded, and I got sunburnt lobster like! Many concert/road trips. Cowboy Mouth on NYE, and my birthday, Butch Walker in the spring, and on 12/30/12 too. Celebrating my the first birthday of my AddiCakes, and JMan turning 3. Those two cuties are some of my favorite people on this planet! I love love love watching them grow! We had plent of "Best Friends Day's" this year, went to the zoo in both Evansville and Indy. I also attened several wedding this year. I was honored to be a part of Emily's big day as a brides maid, and attned weddings of two great pals this fall. I had a trip to the ER this summer, that wasn't fun, but thankful I've had no major issues since.

Thank you 2012 for all of your amazingness!!

2013- bring it! I'm ready! This year I'm going to strive to be the best version of myself that I can be. In my work, in my relationships, in my health, all of it. I can't wait for the gym to open so I can start getting on track with my working out. I miss my awesome zumba class from Evansville so much. I'm going to make more of an effort to stay connected to the people who I love who don't live near me. I'm going to work hard to make new friends in my new city. I'm going to continue to be happy in my relationship with the boyfriendy. Relationships take work, and I'm ready to do the work to continue to foster amazing relationships with all the people I love!!

I hope anyone reading this has an amazing year!!!! Make each day count, and all that jazz!!

XO TaraPants

Adventures In: Being A Sap

In honor of the new year I wrote out for my boyfriend 13 (for 2013) things about him that I love.

Thanks for making 2012 amazing boyfriendy. I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.

I love you!!!